Smog Level Down in Eastern U.S. Cities

Sept. 27, 2007 -- Lung-threatening smog levels dropped 7% last year in the
Eastern U.S., a new government report shows.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Thursday that levels of smog,
also known as ground-level ozone, continued a six-year declining trend since
2000. Overall, smog pollution in the Eastern U.S. has dropped 60% since the
beginning of the decade, the report concludes.

Smog is caused by nitrogen oxide emissions (mainly from power plants and car
tailpipes) that are exposed to sunlight.

The pollution causes inflammation in the lining of the lungs. It is known to
worsen the severity of asthma and a host of other lung ailments in both
children and adults. Smog is typically worse during the summer.

The report shows declining smog levels in most urban centers in the eastern
part of the country. Exceptions are New Orleans, where smog levels continued to
rise, and Atlanta, where there was no change.

Stricter Smog Standards

The report comes as regulators consider tightening federal smog standards.
The EPA has proposed lowering allowable smog levels from 84 parts per billion
currently allowed to 70-75 parts per billion.

"I will be making a final decision on that health standard by March of
next year," Johnson said.

Janice Nolen, an assistant vice president at the American Lung Association,
says the agency should drop allowable ozone levels to no more than 60 parts per
billion.

The organization points to epidemiologic studies showing potential health
effects in otherwise healthy adults at levels between 60 and 70 parts per
billion.

"We have a lot of research to show that the levels we thought were safe,
which is the current standard, are not safe," Nolen tells WebMD.

Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch, an environmental group,
called the results encouraging. But he pointed out that at least 40 states and
the District of Columbia experienced unsafe ozone levels over the summer.

"We have not solved the smog problem -- not by a long shot,"
O'Donnell said. "Let's not pop open too many champagne bottles."